Chapter Three

Kurt never imagined that Finn would ever ask to spend any alone time with him, so when the lanky football star approached him near the end Glee Club, it took all of his strength not to crumble to the floor in a puddle.

“Hey, umm… Kurt?” 

Oh sweet Gaga.  He knows my name.

Kurt just looked up at him like a deer caught in the headlights for a few moments before Finn continued with a slightly pink hue in his cheeks, “Do you… maybe… want to meet in the auditorium after class and figure out this ballad stuff?”

Kurt suddenly realized he was still standing there with his mouth open, looking like an idiot so he subtly shook himself, “Yes!” He squeaked, and then he coughed, attempting to bring his voice back down to its normal pitch, “I mean… Sure. That would be fine.”

Finn didn’t seem to notice the other boy’s momentary lapse of limited self-control, “Ok, meet me there in 15 minutes. We can work on it until 5, cuz then I have football practice.” He then turned around and walked out of the choir room with Quinn, who’d been waiting for him in the doorway.

It took more than a couple of minutes for his brain to catch up to what had just happened.

Did Finn Hudson just ask me out?

************

Kurt spent the remainder of his 15 minutes in the bathroom freshening up and ensuring that his perfectly coiffed hair had remained perfectly coiffed. He sprayed about half a can of hairspray on his hair and re-applied his favorite cologne before setting out in search of his one true love.

Finn was already waiting for him on the stage when Kurt arrived.

“Hey,” Finn said. “Thanks for helping me with this.”

“It’s my pleasure.” Kurt replied with his best smile. “Have you thought about what song you want to do?”

The quarterback deliberated for a few minutes. “I don’t really know any songs that tell stories.”

“Well,” Kurt hesitated, gathering up the courage to continue, “I’m sure there is something that you’ve always wanted to say but you just didn’t know how to get the words to come out properly, right?”

Again, Finn was lost in his own thoughts.

Kurt noted his hesitation.

“Finn?” He asked slowly, “Is there something you want to say to me?”

Another hesitation.

“Dude… you’re ummm… well, you’re gay right?” He stuttered.

Kurt swallowed the elephant-sized lump in his throat, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“How did you find the guts to tell everyone?”

“I didn’t.” Kurt answered bitterly. “Jacob Ben Israel did that for me.”

“Oh, right.” Finn looked slightly embarrassed.

“Why do you ask?” Kurt offered quietly, “Is there something about you that you wish everyone knew about?”

He took a deep breath and moved closer to where Finn sat and put a hand on the taller boy’s shoulder, his heart beating so loudly he was afraid that the other boy might notice.

“No.  I just never met anyone gay before and I think it’s kinda cool that you’re such a normal dude.  I think you are brave for being so okay with who you are and not afraid to show it.” Finn shrugged.

Well that wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“Uhhh, thanks. I think.” Kurt’s shoulders sagged slightly and he backed a few inches away from Finn and removed his hand from the other boy’s shoulder. This was definitely not going how he’d planned.

“How do you deal with all the garbage people say about you and stuff?”

Kurt scoffed. “I try to ignore them. And I focus on the things that make me happy. Like Glee club.  There I am surrounded by people that don’t care that I’m gay.  I’m just another member of the group that loves to sing. It’s also a great way to vent your frustrations – you’ve gotta let it out.”

“How?”

“By singing!” Kurt stood up and walked over to the piano. “Do you know ‘I’ll Stand by You’ by the Pretenders?”

Finn grinned and stood up on the stage as Kurt began playing the song. He sang with all his heart, and Kurt played beautifully, not missing a single note. Thankful for all of the piano lessons he’d taken over the years.

When they finished the song together, Finn walked over to the piano and sat on the bench beside Kurt.

“Thanks dude,” he said, “That was really cool.”

“Of course Finn. I would help you with anything. I love spending time with you.” The last part slipped out before Kurt could think about what he was saying. His face flushed.

The quarterback seemed not to have noticed.  He was staring off into space again.

“Kurt?”

“Yes, Finn?”

“Your mom died right?” He said. “I mean, when you were younger?”

Kurt’s head shot up.  That was unexpected.

“Uh yeah, when I was eight.”

“My dad died when I was a baby.  I don’t even remember him.” Finn said sadly.

“Finn, I’m sorry.  I didn’t know that.” Kurt exclaimed softly, “Are you ok? Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’m ok. It just makes me sad sometimes, you know? To think about him. He was in the Marines.  He died in the Middle East or something.”

“What was his name?” Kurt asked.

“Christopher.” Finn said looking up. “My mom still really misses him. I know she does.  Even though it’s been so many years.  I know she still misses him.”

“My mom’s name was Elizabeth.  My dad still misses her too.” Kurt offered. He hadn’t realized that he and Finn had something so special and so important in common. “I don’t think you ever really get over losing a spouse.”

“We still have his old furniture in the living room.” Finn said with a smile. Then he pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans and took out a folded, faded and slightly wrinkled photo. “This is him sitting in his favorite recliner.  That’s me.” He added, pointing to a small baby in the man’s arms. “It’s the only picture we have of him and me together.”

Kurt could feel the emotion welling up behind his eyes as he looked at the quarterback.  He’d never dreamed that he would be sitting alone with Finn, let alone having him pour his heart out to him like this.

“It’s ok to miss him Finn.” Kurt said after a few minutes of silence. He risked putting his hand back on Finn’s shoulder and rubbed gentle circles with his fingers. “He was your dad.  It’s ok to miss him.”

The teen nodded and nonchalantly sniffled and Kurt could tell that he too was fighting back tears. Finn then stood up and wiped a sleeve across his moistened eyes and looked back down at Kurt.

“I have to go. I’ve got football practice and I really don’t want to be late.”

Kurt smiled, although sad that his storybook afternoon was coming to a close. “Of course. Can I at least walk you down to the field?” Then he quickly added, “It’s on the way to my car anyways”

Finn chuckled innocently, gaining his composure once again. “Sure, why not?”

The improbable duo walked down the steps of the auditorium and in the direction of the football change rooms.

Kurt wasn’t sure why he offered to go with Finn.  On any other occasion he would stay as far away from the locker rooms as he could.  Usually the thought of being surrounded by the rest of the big ugly football players scared the bejesus out of him, but this had been the best (date?) ever and he wanted to soak up every minute he could with Finn Hudson.

“Finn!” A voice shouted from somewhere behind them as they approached the entrance to the locker rooms a few minutes later. “Wait up!”

Kurt and Finn halted their casual conversation and both turned around to see a boy who looked too small to be wearing football gear approaching them with a McKinley Titans duffle bag and huge grin.

“Hey man, how’s it going?” Finn asked once the boy had caught up.

The curly-haired boy had made his way between Kurt and Finn and was now walking sandwiched between them.

“Great!” He replied with a brilliant smile, and then he added, “Kurt, are you joining the football team again or something?” His big brown eyes glittered as he looked over at the other boy.

Again? Kurt thought to himself. How does he even know I was on the football team? Isn’t he new here? That was months ago.

“Uhhh no.” Finn supplied. “We were just working on…uh…some homework.  Kurt was helping me out.”

“I see. And does Kurt speak for himself or…?”

“Actually yes, I do. Thanks for noticing Blair.” Kurt interrupted sourly.

Finn looked extraordinarily confused by Kurt’s abruptness.

“It’s Blaine, actually.” The boy had a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. “Did you sing that song?”

“No”

“Oh.  Well I still think you should.  It’s a great song.” Blaine said, shrugging the duffle bag back up onto his shoulder after it had slid down.

“Yeah, thanks. I hadn’t noticed.” Kurt hissed, eyes narrowing.

Finn, looking even more baffled, took the opportunity to cut in. “Do you two know each other?”

“Yes.” Blaine answered with yet another smile at exactly the same time that Kurt huffed “No.”

Finn was at a loss. Huh?

“We met earlier today in the hallway.” Blaine stated.

“Yeah, after you and your gang of thugs attacked me on my way to class.” There was hatred in Kurt’s voice as he glared at the shorter boy.

“You attacked him?” Finn said incredulously, turning towards Blaine.

“No! Well, Karofsky kinda nudged him a little but…” Blaine began but Kurt stopped walking and pointed a thin white finger in the face of the shorter boy, causing Blaine to come to an abrupt halt to avoid having the finger jab him in the eye.

“Nudged a little bit hey?” Kurt said, now in full bitch mode. “Is that what that was?”

Blaine’s bushy eyebrows furrowed, he swallowed and began to form a reply but was cut off once again by Kurt and his still wagging finger.

“I suppose that’s what that was the other day then too, right? A nudge into that locker?”

Blaine looked hurt.

“What the hell is going on?” Finn was so confused at this point that he just kept looking from one boy to the other, hoping that someone would explain the situation.

“Forget it.” Kurt huffed, still glaring at Blaine. He looked him right in the eyes then added, “He’s not worth my time.”

Kurt spun on a heel, turning away from the two football players and started in the direction of the parking lot.

“I’ll see you tomorrow in Glee Finn.” He then stomped away, with a red face and smoke billowing out his ears behind him.

“Kurt, wait!” He heard Blaine shout. “I told you I was sorry about that!”

Kurt clenched his fists and continued storming off in the opposite direction. How dare he? That asshole just ruined my perfect afternoon!

“Go to hell Blake!”